The fifth-ranked Minnesota volleyball team (3-1) defeated Idaho State (0-2) in three games by scores of 30-19, 30-19, 30-18 in the second match at the Wyoming Tournament on Friday, Sept. 3 at the MPG in Laramie, Wyo. With the victory Minnesota moved to 2-0 in the Wyoming Tournament, while Idaho State dropped to 0-2.

Junior libero Paula Gentil (Forteleaza Ceara', Brazil) had 12 digs in the first match of the day against Texas-San Antonio to move to 1,302 in her career with Minnesota. Her 1,292nd dig broke the school record previously held by Sharon Oesterling (1986-89). Gentil had 16 digs in the second match against Idaho State to move her career total to 1,318.

Erin Martin (Ames, Iowa) paced Minnesota with 14 kills and two block solos in the match. Jessica Byrnes (Minnetonka, Minn.) had 10 kills and three blocks for the Golden Gophers as well.

Minnesota jumped out to an early 6-2 lead in the first game. Idaho State cut the led to 9-7, but a pair of solo blocks by Trisha Bratford (Reseda, Calif.) and Martin helped ignite 5-0 run that put the Golden Gophers up 14-7. Idaho State scored the next point to break the run and make it 14-8. However, Minnesota answered with four of the next five points to go up 18-9. Idaho State scored three of the next four points to cut it to 19-12, but the Golden Gophers ran off a 5-0 run to take a 24-12 lead. The Bengals scored three of the next four points to cut it to 25-15, but that was as close Idaho State would get as Minnesota moved on to win game one 30-19.

The Golden Gophers limited the Bengals to a .000 hitting percentage and hit .256 in the game. Minnesota also outblocked Idaho State 5.0 to 2.0 in the game. Martin paced the Golden Gophers with five kills in the game. Lindsey Taatjes (Prinsburg, Minn.) also registered three blocks in the game.

Minnesota ran out to an early 6-1 lead in game two. Idaho State scored four of the next six points to cut the lead to 8-5. The Golden Gophers answered with 11 of the next 14 points to increase their lead to 19-8 paced by three kills and a block by Byrnes during the run. Idaho State scored the next three points to cut the lead to 19-11. However, Minnesota answered with eight of the next 11 points to build a 27-14 lead. The Bengals scored four of the next five points to make it 28-18, but the Golden Gophers sandwiched a Byrnes kill and a Martin kill around an Idaho State point to give them a 30-19 game-two victory.

For a second straight game, the Golden Gophers held Idaho State to a .000 hitting percentage. Minnesota hit a season-high .516 in the second game. Minnesota had 20 kills to the Bengals six for the game. Martin and Byrnes each had six kills in the game.

In game three the two team were tied at 2-2, but Minnesota reeled off nine straight points to take an 11-2 lead. Idaho State scored the next two points to make it 11-4, but the Golden Gophers pushed the lead to 15-4 with four straight points paced by two kills from Bratford and Jessy Jones' (Naperville, Ill.) first career kill. Minnesota pushed the lead to 17-6, but Idaho State cut it to 17-9 with three straight points. The Golden Gophers came right back with four straight points to go up 21-9. Minnesota would lead by at least 10 points the rest of the way as it claimed game three 30-18 to win the match.

Minnesota outhit Idaho State .353 to .057 in the third game. Bratford paced the Golden Gophers with four kills in the game.

Kelly Bowman (Maple Grove, Minn.) finished the match with seven kills, seven digs and 21 assists. Taatjes had five blocks, five digs and 28 assists on the night. Marci Peniata (Plymouth, Minn.) also had a career-high three service aces, along with eight digs. Jones had three kills and a block in her first collegiate match as a Golden Gopher.

Minnesota outhit Idaho State .361 to .019 for the match, and outblocked the Bengals 8.0 to 4.0.

Idaho State was led by Nikki Randall and Felice Yocopis who each had seven kills on the night.

Minnesota finishes up the tournament against host Wyoming on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 8 p.m. (CT).